Hello Hubski, I have a MAJOR life decision to make that will drastically alter the trajectory of my life. I figure that it would be a good idea to reach out the this community to get some advice and some new perspective on my issue from people who are completely impartial.
So basically, I just graduated from College this last May. I managed to secure a pretty nice job that I enjoy and find fulfilling and on top of that, I snagged a Research Assistant position with one of my favorite professors - a position that is competitive and relatively hard to come by to my knowledge. This all seems pretty good right? Well, the story gets a little more interesting...
At the end of August I have some plans (that I've had in the works for long before I got the aforementioned jobs) that I really want to follow through with. The first is an opportunity to travel to France to live with a host family through Workaway for a month with my brother. There, we would tutor their child in English, teach him guitar, help out with some odd jobs around the house, and work on an ongoing art project while being allowed to stay in their beautiful house in the French Pyranees and live as apart of their family. IMMEDIATELY after we return, our plan is to hop in the car with my best friend, and drive across the country to Seattle, where we plan on living for a while.
Some other relevant information:
1. I intensely don't want to continue living where I currently am. Since all of my friends graduated from school, I have no one around. No friends. No family. Nobody.
2. My job requires that I surrender my Friday and Saturday nights, because I have to work overnight. So my social life is entirely non-existent.
3. I want to go to Seattle because I have friends and family there already, and I am confident that I can work in the same field that I am currently in (only the pay will actually be much better).
4. Other people's plans (my brother especially) are contingent upon me going to Seattle/Europe.
5. A major life goal of mine is to travel the world as much as I possibly can.
The thing that is making me so indecisive is that I am nervous to leave my Research Assistant job because I don't know if I'll get another one (I have the intention of going to graduate school in the near future, and I want to have the relevant experience and credentials to get in). I have only been working there for 3 months, and it's likely that my professor/boss will write me a good letter of recommendation, I can't help but feel like I'm bailing on him too early. I can't shake the feeling like this critically important to my future success. Additionally, it just feels weird to quit two good jobs early in my career and take a risk like this.
But to reiterate, if I continue to live in this area, it is 100% certain that I will be depressed, lonely, and absolutely miserable. This isn't me being melodramatic, it's a simple fact. Whereas if I take a risk, travel to Europe and across America with my best friends on the planet, my future is more uncertain, but I know that I'll be happy.
Any advice?
Depends on what kind of folk you hang with and how good your social skills are. It's not the friendliest place but people are very nice. I'll buy you a beer if you hit me up. Research assistant is a pretty common job but biotech activity is kind of slow in Seattle. San Fran and Boston are the major hubs for biotech in the us
It's good to hear that people are friendly! I will revel in the fact that there will actually be people to socialize with. Going from college campus to rural life is a drag. And yeah, I tell myself all of the time that a large metropolitan area will yield many job opportunities. But until I get there and start seriously job hunting I will be perpetually anxious about this. What would you say night life is like in Seattle? I would really like to see a lot of live music.
If you're into live music you're in the right place.What would you say night life is like in Seattle? I would really like to see a lot of live music.
kleinbl00 knows my situation which has resulted in the being in the land of 1000 acquaintances and 3 friends. And not in Seattle. weird-in-the-woods, do what gives you the best possibility of being happy.
Looks like you are doing 1 better than most http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/you-gotta-have-friends-most-have-just-2-true-pals-f1C6436540
I'm not really a fan of that measurement method for multiple reasons. What defines what an "important matter"? Just because a person isn't somebody you would discuss an "important matter" with doesn't mean they're not a friend.
Yeah, I guess it also has to do with your definition of friend. If you would only consider someone your friend if you would discuss something important with them, I would say you have pretty damn rigid criteria for friendship. However, this article did make me realize that the number of friends I have who I would feel comfortable talking about deeply personal stuff with is diminishing kinda quickly. And they're beginning to become more and more scattered around the world.
Hey now, I moved from a city in Upstate NY to it's somewhat equivalence in WA. I will say, there is a noticeable difference in people in the northwest vs the northeast.